San Francisco Staff Picks

Chinese New Year 2018

There are so many reason why we love San Francisco and the Chinese New Year is one of them! Starting February 10th through March 4th, the city celebrates the Chinese New Year with a number of festivities that pay homage to our city’s vibrant culture. Help us usher in the Year of the Dog this year with a number of not-to-be-missed activities, including the Chinese New Year Flower Fair (2/10-2/11), the Chinatown Community Street Fair (2/24-2/25) and of course, the Chinese New Year’s iconic parade on Saturday, February 24th. Named as one of the top ten Parades in the world by International Festivals & Events Association, the night illuminated parade is the biggest celebration of the lunar new year outside of Asia. Are you excited yet? A collection of gorgeous floats, costumes, firecrackers and the crowd favorite, the Golden Drago know as “Gum Lung” will take to the streets. Not felling up to the crowds? Take in all the action from the comfort of your guest room and tune in to KTVU Fox 2 or KTSF 26 at 6 p.m. on the 24th.

Inspired by the Chinese New Year? Check out our current specials and offerings and make the last-minute to be part of this special celebration.

Celebrate Love in San Francisco

Take romance to new heights in 2018 with an experience that makes you an honorary private mansion owner atop the Bay Area’s most exclusive neighborhood. Book the Pacific Heights Romance Package and enjoy a half bottle of Schramsburg Sparkling Wine to toast to the occasion, a box of confections by local chocolatier Jenner Ashby, a romantic silk rose-petal turndown service, and a much-needed guaranteed late check-out time.

While in your town, check out our top three ways to celebrate love in San Francisco:

1. Sit down for a picnic at Crissy Field, one of the area’s most expansive spaces of green with a gorgeous view. Bring a cozy blanket and basket filled with local goodies and you can even bring your pooch (if your pup made the trip).

2. Get artsy and spend the afternoon at the Palace of Fine Arts. Known for its welcoming and show-stopping rotunda and collection of fountains surrounding the iconic lagoon, it’s the perfect backdrop for romantic selfies.

3. Take a page from Shakespeare himself and walk amongst a Garden of Shakespeare’s Flowers. Get lost with your beloved as you walk along a perfectly-laid path adorned with blooms.

Instagram-able Views

A picture says a thousand words and we’ve got the top three Instagram-able spots around town. Head out on an adventure to one of these destinations for unparalleled Bay Area views. The only other decision you’ll have to make is which filter to use, but, if you ask us, these views are so stellar that a filter may not even be required.

Grandview Park – Give your glutes a little work out and head up the steps of 16th Ave. (Yes, the mosaic tiles are amazing!) Check the weather for fog before you go (clear days are best) and you’ll take in a three-for-one deal: the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Park.

Ina Coolbrith Park – The namesake park of the state’s first poet, this under-the-radar spot is home to a variety of florals and provides sweeping views of Coit Tower, “The Pyramid,” and San Fran’s signature skyline.

Tank Hill – Go north of the more widely-known Twin Peaks by less than a mile and find yourself in what we call a “boutique” park, offering larger-than-life views for you to admire. You might not even find this one on the map, but just ask our team and we’ll be happy to help point you in the right direction.

Explore San Francisco Like a Local

Get behind the handles to see San Francisco like a local. As part of the Hotel Drisco experience, we encourage you to peddle your way around town. From biking the Golden Gate Bridge to exploring charming areas nearby, we offer bike packages inclusive of all the essentials, think picnic lunches and bike path maps to help you get one degree closer to all-things San Francisco, especially since the city is only 7 miles by 7 miles. Grab a helmet and seek out our top three picks best seen by bike:

Golden Gate Park – go for it on a Sunday when cars aren’t allowed on the streets, leaving more room for you to bike freely

Sausalito – head across the Golden Gate Bridge for amazing views and find yourself in Sausalito for day of sightseeing complete with gorgeous views

The Marina – start at Fisherman’s Wharf and work your way around town to discover hidden beauty with each peddle

A Secret Worth Telling

The key to great improv is to always say yes, and the Secret Improv Society is sure to make its audience members say, “Yes!” San Francisco is chock-full of improv but the not-so-secret Secret Improv Society stands out amongst the rest. World-class improvers transform the space from a theatre into a laugh haven. Housed in the Shelton Theater, the Secret Improv Society brings the funny every Friday and Saturday night at 10 p.m. With an open bar and tickets starting at just $17, the Secret Improv Society is a treat you should tell all your friends about. Come to watch or try your hand at performance. Be the brave soul that steps onto the stage from the audience and ignites the room with laughter. With audience contribution, there’s no such thing as writer's block or actor’s block for that matter. Fill you vacation with laughs at the Secret Comedy Society at the Shelton Theatre.

Address: 533 Sutter, San Francisco 94102

Healthy Parks, Healthy People

Getting healthycan be a challenge, and staying active and healthy while on vacation is even harder. However, while you’re on vacation in San Francisco, their National Park Society has got you covered.Healthy Parks, Healthy People is a recurring National Park Society event that takes place the first Saturday of every month from 2pm to 4pm. As you work your way to a healthier lifestyle, there’s no need to put things on hold while on vacation. The program series includes the following programs which will alternate each month: Hiking for Heartbeats, Ecotherapy, Family Fun Fitness, and Family Boot Camp. Healthy Parks Healthy People is a program designed to help you get ready and stay ready for a healthy life even when you're away from home. The recurring event is free for all who want to join in, and it's kid-friendly, just in case you want to make this an outing for the entire family. Meet in front of the Presidio Visitor Center, wear comfortable exercise clothing and shoes, and get ready to sweat!

Presidio Visitor Center, 210 Lincoln Boulevard, San Francisco, CA

Batteries to Bluffs

Take in beautiful ocean views while hiking at San Francisco’s Batteries to Bluffs Trail. Just a short 10 minute drive from Hotel Drisco, the Batteries to Bluffs Trail wows its hikers with wondrous views of the Pacific. Enjoy the peace of the crashing waves as you climb the stairs of your hike to breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin headlands. There are a number of off-shoots to the trail, including the romantically quite Marshall Beach, a perfect place to take in the beautiful ocean with your significant other, family or friends. If you’re lucky enough, you may even get to see a dolphin or two. The Batteries to Bluff Trail is sure to woo you and give you a great workout in the process.

Stairs to Heaven

The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps started as a neighborhood project of creating “a sea to stars themed mosaic flowing up a 163-step stairway.” Now, 14 years later, the wonderfully crafted stairs in the Golden Gate Heights neighborhood serves as a free local landmark for all to see. The members of the community definitely accomplished their mission of beautifying Golden Gate Heights with the luminescent walk up in the center of their community. “Stairs to Heaven” perfectly describes the handmade named tiles that lead up to a breath taking view of San Francisco. Whether you’re hiking the steps for a morning workout or sightseeing with your travel buddies the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are sure to be a wonderful addition to your itinerary. Park at the bottom of the steps, take in the beauty of the carefully crafted stairs, and snap a photo for all your friends to see. Because trust us, they will wish that they were there!

The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are located at Moraga Street, between 15th & 16th Ave., San Francisco, 94122

The 'Full House' House: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Did you grow up watching DJ Tanner navigate through life with her insanely cute younger sisters on Full House? Or maybe you’ve binged watched that same DJ Tanner return to her childhood home as a single mother on Fuller House. Whether you’re hip to the Full House Franchise that introduced the world to Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen or an appreciator of San Francisco’s signature Victorian homes, 1709 Broderick Street is the place to visit. The home at 1709 Broderick Street is the very home filmed in the opening sequence of Full House. Take pictures in front of the home; create your very own opening sequence to Jesse Frederick’s “Everywhere you look”, and then head over to Alamo Park for a picnic. Relive your childhood on a nice day adventure to 1709 Broderick Street! Full House is a popular family sitcom that aired on primetime TV from 1987 to 1995. Fuller House, its spinoff, can be found on Netflix.